After just one season, Kurt Suzuki will not be returning as manager of the Los Angeles Angels after the club lost 100 games for the first time in franchise history.
The Angels announced Wednesday they declined a 2027 club option on Suzuki and will begin a search for a new manager and coaching staff. Suzuki has been offered a role to remain with the organization as a special assistant.
Suzuki, a former catcher with the Angels who signed a one-year deal last October, guided Los Angeles to a 62-100 mark this season — a 10-game slide from how the team fared under Ron Washington and Ray Montgomery in 2025.
The Angels’ previous high for losses in a season was 99 in 2024.
OFFICIAL: The Angels announced that the Club has declined the option in Kurt Suzuki’s contract and, in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, will search for a new manager and coaching staff for the 2027 season. https://t.co/RExo0C19az
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) October 21, 2026
Los Angeles will be under new ownership, with Stan Kroenke assuming control from Arte Moreno in the first quarter of 2027. A decision on the future of interim general manager John Mozeliak has yet to be made.
“Kurt has earned tremendous respect in our clubhouse, and I’ve seen firsthand how much he cares about our players,” Mozeliak said in a statement. “I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his abilities as a manager. I’m pleased we were able to offer Kurt a role to stay on as a special assistant, where his knowledge of our players and his perspective would continue to be valuable to the organization. I would also like to thank the entire coaching staff for their professionalism and hard work throughout a very difficult season. We value their expertise and have offered some members of the staff positions within the organization.”
The starting pitching rotation was markedly better in 2026 behind Reid Detmers, Walbert Urena, Grayson Rodriguez and Jose Soriano (before he was traded at the deadline). The starters’ ERA improved to 4.14 this season (12th in the majors) after they were 28th in 2025 with a 4.91 ERA.
Whoever succeeds Suzuki will be the Angels’ sixth manager since Mike Scioscia ended a 19-year run in 2018. The team hasn’t been to the postseason since 2014 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2009, when the Angels last won the American League West title.
As a player, Suzuki spent 16 seasons playing for five franchises and won the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals. He drew rave reviews for his handling of the pitching staff during his final two playing seasons with the Angels in 2021 and ’22. Following that, he spent three years as a special assistant to then-Angels general manager Perry Minasian.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
